JK Rowling’s multi-million Harry Potter thank-you

Warner presents author with gold and diamond bracelet as final film smashes box office records

As the final Harry Potter film breaks box office records around the world, it's been claimed that Warner Bros has said thank you to JK Rowling, the author who made the lucrative franchise possible, by presenting her with a token of their appreciation.

But the studio opted for a present rather more grand than a bunch of flowers or box of chocolates. After the London premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Warner Bros CEO Barry Meyer reportedly handed over an antique white gold bracelet festooned with 40 diamonds that, according to gossip website TMZ, is worth "millions of dollars".

Even Rowling - who is now a dollar billionaire, according to Forbes - was taken aback by the lavish gift and was concerned about wearing it before it had been properly insured.

However, TMZ claims that the studio laid on a troop of security guards to make sure that the jewellery and its new owner came to no harm at the bash.

The present might seem extravagant but its value is a drop in the ocean compared to the success of the final instalment of the Harry Potter franchise.

In the US and Canada alone the final film in the series took a record $169.2m on its opening weekend, and it has already made half-a-billion dollars worldwide. Its success looks set to propel Warner Bros past Paramount to claim the 2011 box office crown.

In the UK, the film pulled in £23.75m in just three days. That is £5m more than the previous record for an opening weekend, which was held by the previous Harry Potter film, Deathly Hallows Part 1.